Something amazing had happened.

The light flashed and then there was a loud explosion.

Ryner looked to that side as he ran, “… What is that? What has happened?”

Now, he was at the south of the Southern Country of Ali. Up further south was the boundary of the Republic of Belis.

The citizens and soldiers of Imperial Nelpha that Toale had been leading and the soldiers led by Vois had gathered together to form this army of mixed groups. They were now under attack from an unknown attacker.

The attacker had been from the south, so they had almost thought that they were under attack from the Republic of Belis. But Vois had said that one attacking now was a mercenary group known as the Azure Princess.

Even though they did not know why the mercenary group was attacking them, but they were under attack, so they needed to prepare for battle.

After all, this was a group that had been attacked by the Roland army.

They had been attacked from the side, so they had no reason to allow the damage to spread.

To defend against this attack, Ryner and Ferris were running.

As Ferris ran, she asked with her usual emotionless expression, “What is it?”

“No, that… I can’t tell for certain without using the Alpha Stigma…”

“Mm-hmm.”

“The magic that those people used to attack us, that probably was Roland’s magic.”

Ferris seemed to widen her eyes at Ryner’s words and looked at him. She looked at Ryner’s face with her clear and big eyes.

“…Roland? That means there are soldiers who purused us to the Republic of Belis?”

But Ryner shook his head.

“No, Vois said that wasn"t the case. It seems to be an unknown mercenary group attacking us.”

“Mercenary group?”

“Ah, it seems to be a mercenary group called the Azure Princess… Have you heard of it?”

“No.”

“I haven’t too. But if they"re capable of ambushing the mixed army of Nelpha and Vois’s soldiers…”

At this moment, there as another flash of light and an explosion.

A few soldiers under Vois’s command that had been in the front of the group were caught in the explosion.

Because of this scene, Ryner’s eyes widened.

“…”

Then a strange red five-pointed star started to shine in his black eyes.

That was the cursed eyes called the Alpha Stigma.

It was the cursed eyes that were able to read all kinds of magic.

Using those eyes, Ryner stared at the explosion ahead of them.

“Ah~ That is really Roland’s magic. And it has been altered greatly.”

“Altered?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it powerful?”

“… Well, I wonder.” Ryner stared at the glowing magic again and tried to a.n.a.lyze its structure, strength, specialties and range of effect.

“Ohhh, this is pretty amazing. It"s a lot more powerful than Roland’s magic. Or rather, it seems to have a rather difficult formation… I bet this complicated magic can’t be used by that red-haired muscled idiot?”

Because of what Ryner said, Ferris seemed to be slightly unhappy, “Are you competing with that person called Claugh or something like that?”

“Yes yes.”

“Hmm. That means that someone who"s stronger than him is attacking us, right?”

Towards this, Ryner shook his head.

“No, well~ That red-headed idiot’s physical strength is impressive, so it"s debatable which side is stronger, but…” He stopped, reaching the side of where the battle was occurring. “…But, if I’m not prepared like I was then, I might be killed…”

Saying this, he tensed and examined his surroundings, confirming the events that had happened here.

“…”

In front of him, Vois’s black-armored soldiers were desperately fighting against the a.s.sailants.

No, though they were doing their best, their a.s.sailants were far stronger—it was that sort of hopeless situation.

Then he looked at the people who were attacking them.

“…Talking about which, what is this? Isn’t it obvious that they have gone bonkers? What exactly is after Vois’s life?” Ryner said with an annoyed expression.

Then he started to stare at the fighting invaders in front of him.

Although he had said that, but one person was heading towards them.

Only one person.

No, behind this one person, there were many soldiers that looked like this person, but they did not partic.i.p.ate in the fight. So only one of them was heading to attack them.

That soldier charged into the midst of the mixed army of the Nelpha and Vois’s soldiers.

“…”

Ryner stared at that lone person that was overwhelmingly powerful.

A metal mask and red battle uniform. There was a red b.u.t.terfly insignia on the chest of the soldier. It seemed to be the insignia that represented the Azure Princess mercenaries.

Looking at that insignia, Ryner said something idiotic like “…that isn’t blue at all!”

Then Ferris unsheathed her sword and asked, “Not blue?”

“Yeah, um, aren’t they called the Azure Princess mercenary…”

“Oh. But I haven’t heard of it.”

“Me neither.”

File:DDnYnD v05 021.jpg

“Unless they become famous only recently?”

“Well, who knows. But…” Ryner looked at that red figure.

Then said, “If they have a monster like that, then they"ll become pretty famous soon.”

At this moment, the attacker that had defeated Vois’s chosen soldiers said, “Yes yes, the game ends here~ You"ve realized by now, right? Come, look at my movements, you must have thought ‘Ah, this is no good, the genius has come~! The genius-sama who will defeat us ordinary humans has come~, right? Then hurry up and escape. Because it"s one of my rules to never go easy on my opponent, I"ll kill any idiots who don’t understand what situation they are in~”

As the person said this, the person caught the wrist of Vois’s subordinate who was attacking. Broke that wrist. Threw the person aside. Then continued, “If you don’t want to die like this fellow, then escape. I’ll count to five~! Those who haven’t escaped in five seconds will be my enemies and be killed by me, understand~?”

As the attacker said this, Ryner finally reached Vois’s soldiers who had been ambushed.

Ferris successfully managed to link up from somewhere else.

It seemed as if the time needed to reach the enemy from the soldiers would take about ten minutes…

But the enemy said that they would begin the ma.s.sacre in five seconds.

“Ai~ I can’t make it in time. Well, I should first engage the enemy first.”

Ryner seemed to grumble. As he ran, his fingers started to trace glowing forms in the air.

The special magic that Roland had, drawing the magic formation.

At this moment, the attacker started to trace the magic formation in the air too. At that, Ryner frowned and said, “d.a.m.n it, it’s really Roland’s magic…” As if asking why would there be a Roland soldier in this place.

“…”

But he stopped speaking.

The attacker started drawing the magic formation far more quickly than what Ryner had expected.

The person’s speed was almost as fast as Ryner’s, no, to be more accurate, even the accuracy too.

Upon looking, it seemed to be a magic formation for KUURI. KUURI was a high-cla.s.s magic in Roland that released spears of light to kill the enemy.

It was a complicated magic that normal mages had difficulty wielding.

But now, the magic formation being drawn out did not seem like a simple KUURI.

In the magical formation, seven glowing blocks that seemed to combine with KUURI appeared and something that seemed like eyes appeared in the blocks. These eyes moved around, as if they had their own conscience and were surveying the enemy.

Ryner looked at this magic that he had never seen before and muttered, “What is that…”

The attacker said, “Hey hey~ five seconds are up. Then if those who didn’t listen to my warning and attack…”

But in the middle of what he was saying, a soldier pulled out the sword at his waist and charged towards the attacker yelling “Die!”

But the attacker didn’t look in the direction of the soldier, only softly said “WHAT I SEEK IS THE TUMBLING TRUTH OF IRIDESCENT DESTRUCTION >>> KUUKURA!”

A spell, magic formation and activation sequence that had never been heard before.

Then one of the eyes in the magic formation responding to the approaching soldier and released a killing beam that was very similar to KUURI.

“I wouldn’t let you gain the advantage. WHAT I SEEK IS THE TUMBLING TRUTH OF IRIDESCENT DESTRUCTION >>> KUUKURA!” Ryner finished drawing the magic formation and chanted the incantation. A block of light appeared in the middle of the magic formation and released a light beam.

The KUURIs released by Ryner and the attacker collided and neutralised each other.

“…Hmm. After separating the magic strength into seven parts, the impact for each beam has seemed to decrease… But, well, even so it is quite impressive. Let me try this next time…” Ryner looked at the scene and muttered.

Then he bent down and started to run.

The attacker looked in the direction of the magic that had neutralised his own magic, “Ohhhh, what was that earlier? An outsider has entered this fight. And earlier, that was KUURI, right? Why would there be a Roland mage in the Anti-Roland Coalition~?” as he said that, he looked towards where Ryner had been.

The six eyes that appeared in the magic formation looked in the same direction, as if reacting to what was happening.

They looked around, as if trying to find Ryner’s figure that had released KUURI.

But they couldn’t find him.

No, to be more accurate, Ryner had hidden his presence so that they would not find him.

Although his speed had decreased because he had erased his presence. But he quickly reached the place.

He was about to reach the place where the enemy was.

At this moment.

“Found you!” the attacker yelled loudly.

The eyes made of light turned from the left to the right.

Ferris stood in the sight of these eyes. She was quicker than Ryner and had ran out from Vois’s soldiers, swinging her sword.

“Idiot. It’s too late.”

As she said this, she reached the attacker.

“Wa wa wa wa , what… what is up with this person? She’s too fast… Trouble trouble trouble, but this is not enough to deal with the genius me who is like a G.o.d reincarnated!” the attacker said and raised two fingers, pointing to Ferris.

Two eyes in the remaining six eyes swiftly released the light beam that was KUURI towards Ferris.

Seeing this, Ryner smiled, “…This is useless towards Ferris.”

At that moment, Ferris stopped. She looked at the two beams of light emotionlessly and calmly.

“Hmm.” With that soft sound, she used a speed that only Ryner was able to see and swung her sword, cutting apart the two light beams.

The attacker let out a stunned,

"Eh?"

And then in a surprised voice,

"It can"t be."

At this moment, Ryner charged out from the soldiers.

He said, “As of now, it is too late to be surprised.” And started to draw a magic formation. In a moment, he finished the structure for KUURI.

Seeing this, the attacker said in a surprised tone, “Wa~ what is this, so it’s you…”

“And using KUURI at this moment is a little despicable~” He quickly pointed his right hand in Ryner’s direction.

The four remaining eyes looked in his direction.

“Release.” The attacker said. A light beam shot towards Ryner and another headed for his magic formation.

“Wuah…” Ryner rolled onto the ground and dodged the attack.

Although his completed magic formation had been destroyed, but it was alright.

Because he had managed to decrease the distance between him and the attacker again.

“Ferris.” Ryner said.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Which side will you be backing me up on?”

“I’ll cut away those two remaining light blocks.”

“Ok, then…”

Ryner looked at the attacker.

Surprisingly, the attacker revealed a troubled expression, “You…you, isn’t two against one a little mean?”

Ryner laughed, “Ha ha, I’ve been a despicable person since I’ve been born.”

He shortened the distance between him and the attacker as he said this. He wanted to use his right fist to hit the person’s face, but he knew that it would be painful if he tried to strike the metal mask, so he cast that thought aside. Instead, he used a karate chop and struck at the neck that was between the mask and the uniform, “Did it hit?”

Unexpectedly, the person fell back and avoided the attack. Then he pointed in Ryner’s direction, “Release!”

“Eh?” Ryner raised his head, and looked in the direction where the magic formation that should have been dealt with by Ferris.

As expected, the magic formation drawn by the attacker had been dealt with by Ferris.

Upon discovering Ryner’s actions, Ferris shouted, slightly frantically, “Idiot Ryner. Don’t move your eyes from your enemy. This is a trap!”

At the moment, Ryner felt the killing intent and he pressed his lips together tightly, “d.a.m.n it.” He muttered then bent back and leapt back. If he had remained in his original position and looked at in front of him, he would have been pierced in the neck.

If Ferris had not warned him, he would have probably died. Definitely would have died.

But Ryner breathed in a small breath, as if calmly breathing. Then he muttered: “I must be an idiot. Don’t relax… This is a battleground. The foolish things that I do…” he said this to himself. Then he straightened himself again and looked at the attacker.

The attacker that he had chased with much difficulty had increased the distance between them and raised both his hands.

“Ah, I apologize, everyone. I thought that I could kill one or two dogs of the G.o.ddess by myself… But an unexpected enemy has appeared. So, please take care of the reinforcements~”

As he said that, the hands of the red-garbed soldiers raised and started to trace glowing magic formations in the air. And everyone was activating their own different forms of magic. It really was a mercenary group. It looked like the Azure Princess was made from people of different countries.

Even if he did not care about this, it seemed like the magic would attack at the same time.

No, it seemed that even the area where Toale’s people who were resting behind them would be attacked too.

Ryner tensed his face and shouted to Vois’s subordinates, “d.a.m.n it, defend!”

But they ignored Ryner’s yells and started to form offensive magic.

Of course, everything was offensive magic.

“Huh? Hey hey, stop joking! If the offensive magic collides in a short range, there will be too many sacrifices…” But Ryner quietened down. This could not be stopped by anyone. This battle that had already been started could not be stopped. Anyway, Vois’s subordinates were not Ryner’s subordinates.

So they had no reason to listen to Ryner’s orders.

The only way to stop this was the attacker that had used the altered KUURI and seemed to be the leader of the opposition.

But that person had already seemed to understand that he was unable to defeat him and Ferris so he had started to escape.

If he allowed that person to escape, then there would be no way to stop this ma.s.sacre.

Ryner looked at the attacker who was trying to escape but was being chased by Ferris. It seemed like he would be unable to use magic to capture that person.

The attacker’s movements seemed to be faster that what they had expected. Just be looking at his movements, one could understand that not only magic, but this person’s physical condition was excellent. And his judgment of the current situation was good.

It seemed as if he had wanted to make them lose their will to fight, but after meeting Ryner and Ferris, he had understood that this could not be remedied immediately.

“…Ah, d.a.m.n it, this is bad, huh?” Ryner mumbled.

That person was probably very powerful.

A one-on-one fight would be hard. It would definitely be difficult. He thought.

But he breathed in deeply and used his loudest voice to shout, like an idiot, at the soldiers who were about to use magic on one another, “Stop, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Don’t continue this meaningless ma.s.sacre, this will be left to a one-on-one by your leaders!”

In a moment, Vois’s soldiers slowed on their magic formations.

However the enemy’s magic formations did not stop. But Ryner used a challenging tone to yell at the escaping attacker, “What do you say? Are you escaping because you’re scared of me? Ha ha, if you would run away with your tail tucked between your legs, then you shouldn’t have charged in on your own!”

“… Ah?” Hearing this, the attacker stopped escaping, turned around and raised his left hand. In a moment, the red-armoured soldiers stopped their magic formations.

Ryner contorted his expression slightly. He became slightly melancholic as he saw the soldiers that had been so well-conditioned that they stopped their movements just by seeing their leader raise his hand.

Although he did not know how well trained Vois’s soldiers were, but if they really started to fight against each other, they would be greatly damaged.

This was plainly seen.

But this was the same to the other side. If they fought, then they would not be able to retreat unharmed. After all, his side had the advantage of overwhelmingly powerful soldiers. Furthermore, aside from Vois’s soldiers, there were thousands of Nelpha soldiers.

So the enemies allowed one person to attack first, to make his side lose their will to fight after seeing that person’s power. Although there were a great number of soldiers on his side, they were also with a crowd of people who had no fighting experience. And these people had already been attacked by the Roland Empire, their families and companions had been killed. As their spirits were crumbling, they were in an uneasy situation.

If a surprise attack was launched, then up until the point where the soldiers lost their will to fight, as long as this anxiety spread throughout the people, chaos would ensue.

Those people probably wanted to use that panic to do something.

“…”

But if the other side won this one-on-one fight, there might be a similar effect.

So, the other party had to accept Ryner’s proposal. This way, the fight here could be prevented—

“Well, although that’s what I’m thinking.” Ryner muttered, not confident.

If this failed, there would be a magical battle and an unbelievable number of people would die.

So…

“Please.” Ryner said softly.

The attacker looked to him, “What did you say?”

It worked! Ryner thought and tried to suppress his crow of triumph. Then he looked at the attacker, “I said let’s have a one-on-one? But talking about which, didn"t you actually want a one-to-one fight? Didn’t you want to kill our leader so that we would lose our fighting will, hence why you came in alone? I only said that I would take on your challenge.”

Hearing what Ryner said, the attacker snorted, “Ha? What is that? Don’t tell me you think that you can defeat me?”

“Who knows.”

“Got no confidence?”

Ryner nodded at that.

“... It"s not a fair fight, right? Don"t you have the advantage in this transaction right now? So just accept."

Then,

"Hmm,"

The a.s.sailant said, crossing his arms. He fell silent, apparently thinking about something for a while. And,

"... Well, thanks to you, the situation"s changed a bit, huh...? Though it"s fine even if I accept."

In response to those words, Ryner looked at the a.s.sailant. He peered at the metal mask. He stared at his eyes.

From this conversation, it seemed that somehow, he knew of Ryner.

Or rather, well, if he was from Roland, and on top of that, with that level of magic skill and martial arts, he might have been from the Hidden Elites or Emirel Private Forces or someone from one of those special organizations in Roland"s underworld. In that dark side, the name of Ryner Lute was hailed as The Greatest Magician in Roland, a t.i.tle that many aimed after, so perhaps he knew him from there.

But.

Ryner stared at his opponent and narrowed his eyes. He felt that the voice of the man in front of him was slightly familiar.

But the owner of that voice should have died.

It was the voice of that idiot who had fought with Ryner over the position of The Greatest Magician in Roland.

That guy’s name was Zohra Rom, if he wasn’t wrong.

He used to be an a.s.sa.s.sin for the Roland Empire and had said he wanted to try to a.s.sa.s.sinate Ryner but, because he was an a.s.sa.s.sin who did not kill women and children, he was unable to kill Ryner who was thirteen years old then. He was a enormous idiot who had betrayed Roland and had become a traitor.

But that person was already dead.

When he felt that Sion was starting to go mad, he had challenged Lucile and had died in the end.

Ryner had seen the dissimilated body.

So the person in front of him now could not be Zohra.

Ryner stared at the attacker in front of him. Then said: “You… are you someone I know, by any chance?”

“How can I know someone as silly as you?” The attacker replied.

“Ha~ Is it like that?”

“Yes.”

“Then, Zohra.”

“What is it?”

“Hey, you’re really Zohra!”

Hearing what Ryner said, the attacker shrugged and pulled off his mask, revealing his face.

Tea-coloured hair and determined blue eyes that would not admit defeat. Just by seeing his confident face, anyone would feel annoyed.

Then that smirking mouth said: “Ah, even if I wear a mask, I’m discovered? It seems that I should give up being an a.s.sa.s.sin because I’m unable to hide this heroic air of mine.”

Even his way of talking was exactly like Zohra Rom, who he had met in the past.

Ryner frowned and said, “What? Why are you alive? Weren’t you killed by Lucile?”

Zohra shrugged casually, “The hero of the story wouldn’t die.”

“So you’re the hero?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm. No, I didn’t think you would easily retreat from that monster, unharmed.”

“Ha. That’s a guess from your perspective? My abilities have surpa.s.sed the abilities of a G.o.d, so I can do this kind of thing easily.”

“Oh?”

“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, are you looking down on me?”

“No no~”

“I’ll kill you!” Zohra clenched his fist.

But Ryner didn’t reply to him and asked, “So why did you appear in this mercenary group called the Azure Princess? Talking about that, why did you attack us?”

“I"m not obliged to answer you. Anyway, what are you doing in this place?”

Are~, why was he here? Ryner thought about this for a moment then he shrugged, “Um, well~ I met a lot of trouble and then unknowingly came here.”

“Unknowingly, hey, do you understand what kind of place that is?” Zohra asked impatiently.

“…”

What kind of place… Towards this, Ryner thought about the place and situation he was in now.

He had escaped from the Roland army with Toale, the soldiers and the citizens. Under the situation where they had been unable to escape, they had been saved by the Anti-Roland Coalition that Vois had created.

And heard that Vois could control an inhumane grotesque monster called the G.o.ddess.

Well, because this was what Vois had said himself, he did not know whether that was true or false, even if he had asked Vois seriously, he would have gotten a vague excuse so he still couldn’t understand whether the G.o.ddess was an enemy or an ally.

That meant that he had a companion who he still did not know whether was he an ally or an enemy.

Ah~ that meant.

“…Well~ How do I say this. A lot of things happened so there"s been a lot of changes going on. So don’t ask about the details.” Ryner replied honestly.

Zohra had an ‘are you an idiot’ expression, “Huh!?”

Ryner could only laugh bitterly, “No, well~ that’s what I think as well.”

At this moment, Ferris walked over and sheathed her sword, “What, Ryner? You know this guy?”

“I suppose so.”

“Is he an enemy?”

“Who knows~? Our relationship wasn’t too good in the past…” Ryner turned his eyes back to Zohra and asked, “Are you our enemy?”

Zohra looked back and said, “…From your position, it seems so. If you"re in the Anti-Roland Coalition leader, then that means that you"ve left the mad Hero in Roland, right?”

“Mad Hero? Are you referring to Sion?” Ryner asked.

Zohra laughed, “Sion… Sion, huh? I told you to choose your friends more carefully…”

“I did.”

“You didn"t. I told you to stop with Sion, didn"t I?”

“You did say that.”

“In the end, you were betrayed by that fellow?”

“…”

“So that’s why you’re here right now?”

“…”

“After Sion Astal betrayed you, the companion you met while escaping was Vois Fiurelle. Why don"t you stop for a while? Vois Fiurelle is a piece of rubbish who sold this world to the G.o.ddess.”

Hearing this, Ryner revealed a troubled expression, “No, well~ Although I agree with your view that Vois Fiurelle is a piece of rubbish… But if we explain, there are many other reasons besides that.”

“I don’t care about your reasons.” Zohra quickly replied.

“Let me explain!”

“I don’t want to know.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

Hearing Ryner’s question, Zohra raised his face to the sky, turned around and confirmed the expressions of his companions. Then he said, “Yeah~ One on one, then.”

“Eh~ I don’t want that. This is like a reunion among old friends, there’s no sense of urgency.”

Zohra laughed, “We’re clearly not friends.”

“Eh~”

“Anyway, I don’t know if you still have the time. I’m also taking other things into consideration.”

“Hmm, like?”

“For example, if you still possess enough strength that I could consider making you my ally, or if it"d be okay to talk to you on friendly terms like old times, things like that. Then I should simply take you to my leader, things like that.”

“Oh~. Then do I live up to your standards?”

Zohra shook his head, “Not at all.”

“Really?”

“Really. After seeing the mistake you made in your fight, I was quite disappointed. You haven’t been training yourself, have you?”

“…” Ryner was silent.

Zohra revealed an enlightened expression and said, “Like what I expected. And I feel that you’re weaker than what I had expected? So I have no interest in a weak person. In this cruel world, weak people can only be treated like rubbish. No matter what kind of causes, they are only reasons, so weaklings can only die. Depressed people can only die. Which one are you? You"re always talking about how friends are important and you have that face that says you don’t want anyone to die, so do you have that power to protect the people who you want to protect? I only want to know this.”

From the beginning, this person had particularly liked to know who was it who was powerful, who was the first, I’m the genius etcetera, he had not changed from the past, always displaying that confident face that made people depressed and saying this kind of stuff.

But Ryner could not reply.

He was very clear that he did not have that powerful strength to protect his comrades.

No, it was clearly understood if one looked at the results.

Most of his important people were already dead.

The king who he had thought was his best friend had left, crying.

At that time, what did I do? What did I do?

Ryner thought of mumbling “d.a.m.n it… It’s troublesome” to those matters.

Then he gathered his strength and settled his body.

Then Zohra smiled again, “Oh, you really want to fight?”

Ryner replied, “If I don’t fight with you, you wouldn’t be satisfied, I suppose?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I can only fight. Well, even though I have known them only for a short while, even if it is Vois’s subordinates or the Imperial Nelpha’s citizens, they are my comrades.”

“So you want to protect them?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha ha. You seem to be a bit more responsible than before.” Zohra said.

But Ryner revealed a sad expression, “Because I’ve lost too much.”

“Heh. What, you want me to sympathise with you?”

“I don"t need you to.”

“True. Then, let’s start.”

“Yeah. Because you’re strong, I won"t go easy on you.”

Zohra laughed as he charged, “Ha~ha~~ Who are you talking to?”

Ryner stepped back in reflex and started to trace glowing words in the air, his hands dancing.

It was the magic he had gotten from the Estabul mage in the past, it could release the limits of the mind and enhance the body’s strength.

“Ah, that is a convenient magic. I also have people who were born in Estabul using this. But being too slow is a weakness.” Zohra threw a small knife at him.

File:DDnYnD v05 053.jpg

The knife struck the magical formation Ryner was drawing and twisted it slightly. As Ryner was frantically trying to redraw it, Zohra reached him.

Zohra reached his right hand into the magical formation, thinking to steal the magic.

To resist Zohra’s actions, Ryner increased his speed of his magic formation and said, “Wuah, you are despicable, this is my magic.”

“If it’s stolen away, then it isn’t yours.”

“I won’t let you steal it.”

“I’ll steal it for you to see.”

“Impossible.”

“You are impossible.”

“Then die!” The two of them shouted at the same time and used their hands that were uninvolved in forming the magic to punch each other.

“Guaaaah, that hurts!! But I completed the magic faster! I OFFER THE CONTRACTED WORDS, LETTING THE SLUMBERING MALICIOUS SPIRIT DWELL WITHIN.” Ryner started to chant the spell incantation.

A glow enveloped his body and his movements became faster.

But at the same time, Zohra s.n.a.t.c.hed the half of the glowing words that Ryner had drawn, “I OFFER THE CONTRACTED WORDS, LETTING THE SLUMBERING MALICIOUS SPIRIT DWELL WITHIN.” He enhanced his speed in a breath and laughed, “It’s ended.”

Zohra’s movements were slightly faster than Ryner. His fist was already nearing Ryner’s face. Although Ryner wanted to dodge, he found that he could not dodge. And Zohra threw the small blade in his hand towards him. He felt a sharp pain from his ear, as if he had been scratched, but there was no time to think about that any more.

Ryner lifted his foot, thinking to kick Zohra’s chest, but he did not succeed.

“Too slow!” Zohra said, then he kicked at Ryner’s face swiftly.

“Ah, d.a.m.n it. If it’s physical activity, then you’re stronger.” Ryner determinedly blocked the kick, then used the time to jump back, pulling apart the distance for the magical battle.

From what had happened, he knew that he was faster in magic, so he could probably pull something off if he used magic.

And if he used Alpha Stigma that could a.n.a.lyze all magic, he could win.

So he yelled, “Prepare for my next blow.” Then he prepared to kick and focus all his strength on the place he was about to kick.

“…”

But Zohra"s kick stopped. No, not only that, the killing intent from Zohra disappeared.

Ryner couldn’t help but release a surprised “Ah?”

But Zohra ignored this, put down his leg and sighed. As if there was no need to fight anymore, he turned around.

“Eh? Eh? Why?” Ryner said.

Zohra didn’t turn around. He raised his right foot. Then he swept it back and a small blade flew out from his boot. On the blade of the small knife was a red liquid.

It was probably poison.

Looking at the knife, Ryner said, “…Ah… if it had continued I might have died… That means I lost?”

Zohra looked back with a bored expression, “As I thought, you don"t have the right to be our comrade.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then, what do we do?”

Zohra looked away without replying to Ryner’s question. Then he pointed to one of the soldiers and said, “It was a draw. We met a little trouble, so this was a draw. Report to the princess.”

“But the Queen told us to kill Vois Fiurelle…”

Zohra interrupted the soldier and said, “Idiot. Then will you fight with that black-haired man who looks like he is about to sleep? Or can you match up with that emotionless blond woman’s speed? There are unexpected powers on the enemy’s side. If we continue to force our attack we will suffer more damage than what we had expected. Anyway, that guy…” He looked at Ryner, “That guy is someone who is important to the Princess. If we kill him now, the Princess will kill us.”

Ryner stared at Zohra and asked, “… Talking about which, who is the Princess who you’ve been talking about since just now? Well, because the mercenary is called Azure Princess, so she should be your leader… But who is it that can command you, who hates taking orders?”

Zohra laughed and replied, “I am Love’s slave.”

“Annoying.”

Zohra laughed even more happily, “It doesn’t matter if I’m annoying. I can even die for her.”

“Oh~?”

“She said not to kill you, so this is a draw.”

Ryner lowered his head, “Hmm. So that means your lover is someone I know?”

“Yeah.”

“Who is it?”

Zohra laughed as he replied, “That annoying brat called Vois on your side knows. Up until now, we"ve been clashing constantly, after all.” Then he walked to the back, “Then, it’s a draw, it’s a draw. Let’s temporarily return to the city.”

Zohra said and got up on a horse that was prepared and left. His subordinates started to retreat immediately.

Vois’s followers seemed to want to chase after them, but they were stopped by Ryner, “Let them go. Even if we chased after them, we would be throwing our lives away.”

Zohra was that strong.

File:DDnYnD v05 059.jpg

He was stronger than what he had been.

At this moment, Ferris walked over to him. She reached Ryner’s side in a step.

Then she knocked Ryner’s head for unknown reasons.

“Owwww….?! Hey, why are you doing that suddenly?”

Ferris replied angrily, “Why did you lose that easily!”

Ryner rubbed his head and replied, “But that guy was powerful…”

Even so, Ferris revealed an angry expression and said, “But he wasn’t so strong that you would be unable to defeat him, were you? Why were you merciful?”

Ryner looked at Ferris, then he turned his eyes to look at the blurred silhouette of Zohra.

“Because that guy was also merciful…” Ryner said.

Yes, he had felt that from the beginning. The movements of Zohra who had stood in front of him were not powerful, he wasn’t using all this strength. If he moved back one side, the other side would move back one step too. That was what Ryner thought.

At this moment, a child’s voice spoke from behind Ryner, “… If that was the case, I would be troubled, Ryner.”

Ryner turned around and found that a thirteen, fourteen year old boy had walked out from amongst the black-armoured soldiers. He had beautiful black hair and intelligent black eyes, and he wore clothes that seemed like what a witch would wear.

This was the person who Zohra wanted to kill, the person who had created the Anti-Roland Coalition and had made Ryner the king of the rebels, Vois Fiurelle.

Vois had said that.

The intelligent eyes that held wisdom that a child should not have looked at him, “You are already a leader of an organisation, you know? If you lose easily as the leader of the organisation that would be troubling. And it would demoralise the soldiers.”

Ryner frowned and said, “That’s what you claim. Anyway, your soldiers don’t take me as your leader, you know? I told them to use the defensive magic, but they ignored me…”

Vois looked at his subordinates and asked, “Is that so?”

The soldiers looked at Vois with respect, unlike how Ryner had been treated and lowered their heads, “We apologize.”

Vois nodded, “But I also think that your judgement was right. The one who was wrong was Your Majesty.” Then he looked at Ryner.

Ryner frowned deeply. “So can you stop calling me Your Majesty. Anyway, you’re not showing me proper respect.”

Vois laughed, “If you want me to respect you, then please don’t be merciful to the enemy. Even if the enemy is a young child, you have to kill them mercilessly to be powerful…” Ryner interrupted Vois, “I don’t want to be that kind of powerful.”

“You don’t want it?”

“No.”

Vois nodded, “I see. Then those children that you let go because you were sympathetic will kill your companions after a few years.”

“…”

“Please don’t make me repeat this again. We aren’t playing any games. The road you’re going to take isn’t those kind of—ah, do we add bananas on the dessert?—kind of picnic where you ask fools questions. Because of your meaningless games, many comrades may die. If they die meaningfully, then it’s fine. But if it’s a meaningless choice that you chose because you were weak, then please disappear. If you’re so weak, then you don’t have the right to stand against Sion Astal. Because he is so strong that he is able to kill the children in front of him. He is so strong that he is able to kill while crying. Then what about you? Are you going to say that you don’t have the preparation to kill anyone, but you want to save people?”

This kind of question was evidently a continuation of the lecture Vois was giving him earlier.

Towards what Vois wanted to say, Ryner had already understood it. He sighed and said, “…But, I have my own views on Zohra being merciful.”

“Views?”

“Yeah. Not only the views on my opponent being merciful, but also views on my opponent, and I am unable to fully comprehend the current situation. I didn’t even know that the person who was attacking, Zohra, was with the Azure Princess. But you knew, didn’t you? You knew that Zohra was someone I knew but you still allowed me to go on the frontlines?”

Vois nodded and replied, “Yes, I know.”

“You wanted to let me kill someone who I knew?”

Vois smiled, “Because I knew that to Ryner who was weak, you could not kill him. But even if you didn’t kill him, that didn’t matter. I’m looking forward to a time where, if you fight with people whom you’re familiar with, you can fight for time and I can search for a way to stop the enemy. Because I know that if the enemy listens to what I say, I cannot lie to the other side no matter how many methods I try.” This was indeed what a leader of the Fiurelle clan, who had been generations of masterful liars, Vois would say.

Ryner used a resigned expression to say, “Then what I did can’t get 100 marks.”

“Yes.”

“Then stop grumbling.”

Hearing Ryner’s sigh, Vois shrugged, “But what I said was from my heart. If you are a person who can easily kill Zohra, then the path ahead will be slightly interesting… But, now, ma, forget it. You’ll change, anyway. If you meet anything unfair, you’ll change.”

Ryner sighed again, hearing Vois’s unpleasant words.

Looking at Vois’s soldiers and the Nelpha soldiers and citizens who were clearly exhausted, Ryner remembered the figures of the Roland soldiers who had pursued after them, Ryner mumbled softly, “Maybe that’s true…”

Ryner mumbled that with a tired voice that clearly told of the many deaths he had witnessed so far.

He had only left Roland and Sion for a short period of time, but everything had changed.

Even if it was the scenery in front of him, or the expressions of the people, everything had changed.

Maybe he himself had changed slightly, but he couldn’t tell. No, maybe he had started to change earlier than that.

But even if he thought like that, he would not be able to understand these kind of matters.

He only knew that the situation was slowly, slowly changing.

Because Sion wasn’t smiling by his side anymore.

Even Ferris and Kiefer had bitter memories.

Some of his companions had died, Toale had died too.

Only he himself had not changed—how could something this good exist.

Everything had started changing from long ago.

The more the situation in front of him changed, the more he changed.

But even so.

“…I wouldn’t change into something like what you said.” Ryner said.

“If you gave up that easily… I would have given up a long time ago.” He said.

Then he thought that if it was so easy to give up, then there wouldn’t be any need for him to escape yelling that he hated killing.

He could have become a killing machine like what the Roland Empire had wished.

He could laugh like an idiot while he killed.

If that had happened, maybe Sion could have killed me without any hesitation. Maybe he wouldn’t have to kill those comrades who told that monster ‘Let’s go’ and those friends who thought that they would be happy with that monster.

But I can’t do that.

Because I can’t do that, so I’ve come to do this.

You want me to give up on whatever I’ve been doing and become strong? If there was a need to, then I would have to kill these desires? Don’t joke with me!

If that was the case.

If that was the case, then I would have given up a long time ago.

I would have been like what I was before, not doing anything, saying it was troublesome then escape, escape, always escaping. And then dying easily in an unknown place. No, it’s better to say I should always think of dying.

But Sion will cry.

Because he is bearing that burden alone, so an idiot like Sion will cry, so I should try starting to fight.

Unless you want me to let go of everything and start killing? Admit that not killing is a weakness?

Ryner thought then he laughed sadly and stared at Vois, saying, “…The king that you wish for, isn’t there one like that in Roland? So I won’t walk the same road as that man.”

“That is a weakness.”

“Is it?”

“It is.”

“But bearing that weakness is not easy, you know?”

Towards this, Vois revealed a slightly defeated expression, laughing, “Ha, haha. Ma, that’s true… You really are an idiot. Choosing you was right.”

“Oh, because I’m too stupid, so I can be your marionette?”

Vois narrowed his eyes and replied, “Hmm~ Who knows?” Then he muttered something. He muttered something that Ryner couldn’t hear, “…Ma, it’s like what I thought… It is a demon who fears being lonely…”

“What?”

“Nothing, I was just talking to myself.”

Ryner stared at Vois and said, “Anyway, if you want me to be your companion, then you should stop hiding things from me. I didn’t ask you about Zohra and I didn’t ask about the details about the monster called the G.o.ddess. And, ah, what~ you know the person called Princess who leads the Azure Princess? Who is that? And the person called Princess seems to know me, who is it?”

Vois didn’t reply Ryner’s questions but turned around and said, “I’ll tell you that when we reach the camp. According to what I know, the Runa Empire has surrendered, Roland Empire is starting to move there and operate from there.”

“Huh?” Ryner couldn’t help but yell, “Wait…wait a moment. That means that Sion is going to Runa…?”

But Vois didn’t reply and continued, “And the two Generals Bayuuz White and Claugh Klom are leading the soldiers and preparing to invade the Autonomous Holy City of Ca.s.sla. This is faster than what I had expected. They probably used the Rhule Fragmei to progress… Ma, no matter what, the territory of the Roland Empire has already reached the Southern Country of Ali already. Now there isn’t any power in the southern continent to stop Roland’s power. So we don’t have any time to stay here any longer. Although the Republic of Belis will stand on our side for now, they will change their minds when they see Roland’s power. Before that, we have to cross through Belis and enter the Central Continent. There isn’t much time left. Can we talk as we move?” Vois finished and walked away without waiting for an answer. He started to give orders to the surrounding troops. It was almost impossible to view him as a fourteen or fifteen year old child.

Ryner looked at this, stunned then he turned to Ferris, who was very calm despite what had happened and said, “…No matter how you look at this, it seems as if I’m obviously the subordinate, right?”

Ferris nodded, “You have a natural face that looks like a slave.”

“Haha, I thought of that too. I only want to have no responsibility and live simply…”

Ferris. .h.i.t Ryner’s back as he mumbled that.

“Ah, ow… What is it this time?” Ryner asked.

Ferris complained, “Really, what are you doing. You lost to an a.s.sa.s.sin of unknown origins and you can’t argue against a brat who can’t say anything but perverted things… Even if you embarra.s.s yourself, you have to have some kind of standard.”

Ryner smiled bitterly, “I’m sorry.”

But for unknown reasons, Ferris turned her eyes away and said suddenly, “But I… that… I don’t hate this side of you that is like an idiot, annoying and completely useless…”

“…Eh?”

Ferris continued to look away, “Anyway, you don’t have to mind becoming a marionette. Zohra? Vois? Who knows about that. Sion and I have already approved of you. Then we should only proceed in the direction of our path. So you should have some confidence in yourself, you idiot. Don’t lose to anyone apart from me. I will be unhappy.” After saying these things, she walked away.

Ryner looked at Ferris’s back and ran his hand through his rumpled hair, laughing lightly, “…That, this, if I made you unhappy, then I apologize.”

“If you are apologizing, then you shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”

“Yes yes~”

“Then, let’s go.”

As she said ‘let’s go’, Ryner thought about the events that would happen after today and sighed.

They had escaped the pursuers with much difficulty, but there still was a mountain of things to do.

Behind them were the pursuing soldiers from Roland Empire.

In front of them was the mercenary group called the Azure Princess.

And there were other countries.

In this mess, how was he going to bring the Nelpha soldiers and people, and escape to safety?

“Really, this is really difficult.” Ryner said as he turned to face the sky.

Like earlier, the sky was covered with a thick layer of rain clouds and appeared to be very dark. In this rain, he had to lead the tired people forward.

He had to lead the children who had their parents killed by Roland.

He had to lead the old people who had lost their families.

He still had to continue.

“d.a.m.n it, this is really difficult.” As he said this, Ryner started to walk.

Because he knew that if he did not continue, nothing would change.

And he understood that the more he tried to escape, the more saddening things would happen.

“…”

So he started to walk down the difficult path in the rain.